Introduction
Country Music Mourns the Loss of Alabama Co-Founder Jeff Cook, Dead at 73
The country music world is in mourning following the passing of Jeff Cook, a founding member of the legendary group Alabama. Cook, who served as the band’s vocalist, guitarist, and fiddle player, died peacefully on Monday, November 7, at his home in Destin, Florida, surrounded by family. He was 73 years old.
The heartbreaking news came on Tuesday (Nov. 8), just as many of country music’s biggest stars were preparing for the 2022 CMA Awards. Cook’s family shared that he had battled Parkinson’s disease since 2017, a diagnosis he revealed publicly before stepping back from touring in 2018.
Jeff Cook’s influence on country music is immeasurable. Alongside his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, he began performing under the name Wild Country in the early 1970s before rebranding as Alabama and adding drummer Mark Herndon. By 1977, they had signed their first record deal, and what followed was one of the most remarkable success stories in country history.
During the 1980s, Alabama dominated the charts, sending 27 singles to No. 1 and redefining what country bands could achieve. With hits like “Mountain Music,” “Song of the South,” and “Dixieland Delight,” they blended southern rock and traditional country in a way that captivated fans across generations. Their legacy earned them induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and recognition as one of the most influential acts of all time.
In recent years, even as his health declined, Cook continued to appear on stage alongside Owen and Gentry during Alabama’s 50th Anniversary Tour, a testament to his enduring love for the music and his fans.
Tributes from across the country music community poured in as the news spread. Jason Aldean was among the first to honor Cook, writing, “I got a chance to perform with him multiple times over the years and I will never forget it.”
Other stars, including Kenny Chesney, Travis Tritt, and countless others, shared heartfelt messages of remembrance, reflecting on Cook’s talent, kindness, and lasting impact on the genre.
For more than five decades, Jeff Cook’s musicianship and spirit helped define the sound of modern country music. His songs, his style, and his smile will forever echo through the history of Nashville and the hearts of fans everywhere.
Rest in peace, Jeff Cook — a true country pioneer whose legacy will never fade.